McKinney Council Holds Off On Downtown Parking Garage Site As Development Questions Remain
June 26, 2026
McKinney City Council held off on choosing a location for a future downtown parking garage during its June 16 work session, after council members raised questions about how the project would fit with future redevelopment downtown.
The discussion focused on possible parking structure locations near the old City Hall and Development Services properties. Staff brought forward options intended to support downtown parking needs while also preparing the area for future private development.
Council members did not reject the idea of a parking garage, but several said they were not ready to choose a site without more information about what may be built around it. The discussion repeatedly returned to whether the city should plan the garage around possible office, hotel, retail or public space opportunities.
McKinney Economic Development Corporation President Michael Kowski told council the city is actively talking with multiple groups about office development on the old City Hall site, and that parking is a key part of those conversations.
That made the garage location more than a parking decision. Council members questioned whether choosing the wrong site too early could limit better long-term development options for downtown.
Traffic, walkability and downtown character were also part of the debate. Some council members raised concerns about how a large parking structure would affect nearby streets and whether it would fit the feel of downtown McKinney.
A resident also urged council to table the parking garage proposal and consider another location. During public comment, Miss Black said the current idea could conflict with past downtown planning guidance, increase traffic near neighborhoods, change the historic look of the area and remove trees.
Council did not make a final decision during the work session. Instead, members directed staff to do more work and return with stronger information tied to actual development prospects.
The pause means the city is still weighing how to solve downtown parking needs without locking itself into a plan that could shape the area for decades.